Friday, May 9, 2003

Council to put surplus city items into auction

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., May 9, 2003 -- Town of Pecos City Council members voted to add
surplus city-owned items to a planned auction next weekend at the Reeves
County Civic Center, during their regular meeting on Thursday at City Hall.

City Manager Carlos Yerena informed the council about the Pecos Peddlers
Open Air Flea Market to be held on May 17, in which they were asked if the
city would like to auction any of their equipment.

Pecos Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Linda Gholson talked to
Reeves County Commissioners last month, and said the first flea market was
held last November and the one next Saturday would include an auction.

County Judge Jimmy Galindo said at the time the county was looking to
participate in the auction, and would publish a list of surplus items in
the newspaper that would be declared surplus and available for auction.

"We have three departments that already have items that they want declared
surplus and want to auction off," said Galindo, during the April 28 commissioners
meeting, and on Thursday Yerena asked council members if they wanted the
city to also participate in the event.

"Octavio (Garcia, Pecos' Utilities Director) put a list together of the
things we no longer use," Yerena said.

Among the items that were on the list were two police cars that were
replaced earlier this year.

According to Garcia, one of the cars need the motor replaced and the
other one needs a new transmission. He also said that they had two trucks,
which were replaced also this year, which they no longer use.

"They both run good," Garcia said. "They just have high mileage."

Two other trucks, which were replaced several years ago also run but
are not in good conditions.

Councilman Frank Sanchez made the motion to accept the list of items
to be put up for auction with Mayor Pro-Tem Gerald Tellez seconding it.

The vehicles will be added to a list of vehicles already planned for
auction by Reeves County, including several from the Reeves County Sheriff's
Department.

In other action, the council was presented with the final plans for the
Water Improvements System Project Part I and Part II by Frank X. Spencer
and Associates employee Edgardo Madrid.

The plans were approved with councilman Danny Rodriguez making the motion
and Sanchez and Michael Benavides seconding it.

The minutes from the council's regular meeting held on April 24 were
approved with Sanchez making the motion and Benavides seconding it.

P-B-T picks top teachers, gets field update

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., May 9, 2003 -- Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board members swore
in one new and one returning board member and announced the 2002-03 Teacher
of the Year nominees and winners during the regular school board meeting
held Thursday evening in the Technology Center.

A special meeting was held prior to the regular one to canvass the election
returns, after which new board member Amy Montgomery Miller and returning
member Steve Valenzuela took the oath of office for their three-year terms.

The board then voted on officers for 2003-04, and opted to maintain the
same ones as during the past year. Billie Sadler will once again be board
president, with Lila Cerna as vice-president and Crissy Martinez, secretary.

Martinez was named Elementary Teacher of the Year and Hill was selected
as Secondary Teacher of the Year for the District.

Board members recognized several outstanding students including the Business
Professionals of America state qualifiers; Pecos High School UIL Academic
District winners-regional qualifiers; 6th grade state science fair qualifiers;
FFA Career Development Events state qualifiers; VICA state qualifiers; Distributive
Education Clubs of America state qualifiers and the boy's District State
Champions.

In other action, Superintendent Don Love updated the board on the girl's
high school softball field construction project.

"We are waiting on drawings from the engineers, which should be finished
by May 5," said Love. "Since this does not provide adequate time for bidders
to view, we are delaying the competitive sealed proposals."

Love said that they would open the competitive sealed proposals on May
19, and ask the Board to have a special meeting on May 20 to consider the
proposals.

"Our architect, Monte Hunter, says we have plenty of time to get the
project finished before softball season and get the fence/light pole bases
by the football practice area done before football practice in August,"
said Love. "We will extend the bid date via an addenda," he said.

Senior League still registering players

PECOS, Fri., May 9, 2003 -- The Pecos Senior League is still signing up
15 and 16-year-olds for its 2003 baseball season, while play will open on
Saturday for the 13 and 14-year-olds in the Pecos Junior League.

Four teams will participate in the Junior League this year, one from
Balmorhea and three from Pecos, according to Ray Palomino. Balmorhea will
take on the Mariners at 5 p.m. Saturday, followed by the Yankees and the
Braves at about 7:30 p.m.

Anyone still wanting to sign up to play Senior League baseball should
call Palomino at 447-3224.

Museum to hold 40th anniversary event on May 22

PECOS, Fri., May 9, 2003 -- West of the Pecos Museum will be celebrating
their 40th Anniversary on Thursday, May 22.

A reception will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., in the museum
courtyard and everyone is invited to attend.

Dust off your 1960's duds and beat it to the patio party.

This Week 50 years ago

Building Permits on the Increase

PECOS, May 7, 1953 - Building permits gained several thousand dollars
in value for the last 15 days of April over the first of the month, records
at the City Hall revealed.

Totaling $52,300, the permits were all for residences or repair to residences,
except two business permits totaling $5,500.

Pecos High School Eagle band won the sweepstakes trophy in regional competition
in Andrews.

Pecos Population to Reach 20,000 by 1960 City Engineer Estimates.

Orla News

By Juanita Wiley

Mrs. And Mrs. Edroy Bennett had as their guests over the weekend Mr.
and Mrs. Floyd Parrish and family of Fort Stockton and Mrs. and Mrs. Guy
Engle and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moore of Houston.

Sports

Eagles, Wildcats Tie 7-7 in 11 Inning Battle

Oil

No. 1-A Miller Completed as New Producer

Barstow News

By Inez Dudley Rogers

Dick Hayes, son of Mrs. Bessie Hayes, and Reuben Talley, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Alva Talley, are in the same outfit at Fort Bliss.

Arvizu Concrete Pipe Serving Area Irrigation Farmers From Pecos Shop

Since 1949 the Arvizu Concrete Pipe Co., located at the west edge of
Pecos, has been manufacturing concrete pipe for irrigation purposes. The
company employs 30 people on an average and operates eight trucks to serve
the public. Reubin Arvizu is the manager.

Advertising

Certified 1517C cottonseed

Acid Delinters, Inc. 100 Block S. Alamo

FOR SALE: Barracks bulding, 16x16, equipped for six laborers. To be moved.
$350. James Spotts, telephone 1006.

Bicycle and gun repair: We have everything for the fisherman but the
fish. Broadway Sporting Goods Store, 1515 W. 3rd. Phone 1168.

High school juniors, seniors giving less in DWI dangers

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Fri., May 9, 2003 -- With graduation around the corner and parties
being planned, Pecos High School juniors and seniors were presented a program
this morning warning of the dangers of driving while intoxicated.

The campaign, sponsored by the Reeves County Sheriff's Department and
PHS Counselors, Pat Cobos and Eva Arriola, was aimed at raising awareness
about the consequences of drinking and driving.

The campaign is presented by Texas Department of Public Safety Officer
Lucila Torres. The campaign centers around the tragic story of Jacqueline
Saburido, 20, who survived a DWI automobile accident in 1999.

Torres began the presentation by introducing herself and quizzing the
students on their knowledge of the seat belt and drinking laws in Texas.

She then picked out three volunteers from the group and described the
effects of alcohol at a certain age.

"If a boy at the age of 21, whose liver, kidney and pancreas has fully
developed and then introduces alcohol to his body on a regular basis a study
shows that he will become an alcoholic any where between 10-15 years," Torres
said. "Another study say anywhere between 15-20 years."

She then went on to say that the young boy during this time would have
a girlfriend, get married and have a family.

"If his wife is Hispanic, she will more then likely stay with him because
he is the breadwinner of the family," Torres said in regards to an alcoholic
husband.

She then went on to say if the female also waited until she was of legal
drinking age to consume alcohol one study said that she would become an
alcoholic between five to eight years while another one said anywhere between
four to six years.

"There is a lot of difference between the males and the females," Torres
said. "We can not drink like the males."

Though it would take years before an adult would become an alcoholic,
Torres said that if a child began to drink at the age of 13 he or she would
become an alcoholic within six months.

"At that age you are messing with your body," Torres said. "You are adding
chemicals to the body that it can't handle."

She added that at the age of 13 the body is still growing, along with
the liver, kidneys and the pancreas and is not physically ready for it.

Torres told the group of students that the law states that the minors
cannot consume, purchase, attempt to purchase or possess an alcoholic beverage.

A parent purchasing alcohol for their child could be fined $2,000 and
spend 180 days in jail, Torres said.

She also told students that if their parents host a party, and if someone
who attended the party is involved in an accident where alcohol is a factor,
the parents could be sued.

Torres said that there are three major problems in Texas in regards to
accidents. One is people who do not wear their seat belt, another is speeding
in and out of the city limits and the third is drinking and driving involving
alcohol and sometimes drugs.

"As teenagers you take a lot of risks," Torres told the seniors and juniors.

Torres also told the group there have been accidents in which honor roll
and star athletes have died because they made a wrong choice.

"They were active good kids," Torres said.

She advised them that they only have one life and they may not reach
their dreams because of a wrong decision they may make.

"You may think that it won't happen to me but it can," Torres said.

After providing them with all the information, Torres began her presentation
about Saburido.

"Jacqueline is from Venezuela who came to this country in 1999 to learn
English," Torres said.

According to Torres, Jacqueline had called her dad to tell him that she
was going to a party with some friends.

"Her dad told her to take some money with her for a cab in case she would
need to get home because no one could drive her," Torres said.

Jacqueline was having a good time with her friends at the party, Torres
said.

When the party ended, Jacqueline and her friends were driving on a dark
road outside of Austin. On that same road, was 18-year old football star
by the name of Reggie Stephey who had been out drinking, Torres said.

Torres said that the driver, Natalia Bennett, and back seat passenger,
Laura Guerrero, both died. The two other passengers in the back were able
to get out, but Jacqueline was pinned in the car and tried to protect herself
from the flames with her arms.

"The paramedics could hear her screaming," Torres said. "She was burning
alive."

When the firefighter put out the fire, Torres said that they were not
expecting to find Jacqueline alive.

"Her skin was stuck to he seat of the vehicle," Torres said. "They had
to gently get her out using gauze."

Torres said that Jacqueline's burns were from her head to her knees, 60
percent of her body.

Jacqueline was kept alive at the hospital with constant care. For three
months she was not able to move or feel anything except on her feet, which
were the only body parts that had not been burned.

"She has had over 50 operations," Torres said.

Currently Jacqueline is in North Carolina undergoing treatment. According
to Torres the only thing that she wants is her independence of being able
to take care of herself physically.

"When kids see her they cry and call her a monster," Torres said. "But
she said that she is still the same person inside.

In 2001 Reggie was found guilty of intoxicated manslaughter in the deaths
of Laura and Natalia. He will be eligible for parole in 2005.

Torres said that the DWI campaign is only being done in Texas at the
request of Jacqueline.

"We are only doing this in Texas," Torres said. "She said that Texas is
big enough for her."

In closing Torres challenged the group of seniors and juniors to talk
to their parents and tell them that if they need to call them at any time
on any day to come and get them with no questions asked till the next day.